The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the unchecked rise in airfares during peak travel periods, signalling that airlines could face serious consequences if they fail to comply with regulatory norms governing fare pricing.
The observation was made while a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta heard a plea challenging the alleged arbitrary fixing of airfares by private airlines operating in India.
During the hearing, the bench noted that if airlines were found to be non-compliant with existing rules on fare regulation, their flights could be stopped altogether as a corrective measure.
The plea in question was filed by social activist S Lakshmi Narayanan, who alleged that private airlines were setting fares in an arbitrary and unchecked manner, without adequate justification or oversight.
According to the petition, this pattern of arbitrary fare-setting becomes particularly pronounced during periods of high travel demand, such as festive seasons and peak holiday periods, when passengers have limited alternatives.
The Supreme Court’s remarks suggest that the judiciary is closely scrutinising airline pricing practices, and further hearings are expected to determine what regulatory action, if any, will follow from the case.